Introduction to a Library System

At first glance, your library is a bunch of books with a librarian to check 'em out to you, and back in when you return 'em. Your librarian insures (of tries to, as money permits) your library is well stocked with current titles. These current titles include, in addition to books, videos, tapes and CDs, magazines, encyclopediae, geneaological research stuff and more. The librarian also has to keep the building neat and in good repair. This only shows a few of the things which make up your library. The simple set-up shown above could only work if your library is extremely small.

My local library is part of a library system. In trying to think of ways to describe the system at work, I came up with words and phrases like team, well-oiled machine, and so forth. The atmosphere is not what I think of when I think of teamwork (we're not in any competition), nor is the operation at all mechanical. Everyone knows their jobs and everyone seems to happily carry them out. --And don't anyone tell me otherwise, or you'll shatter my nice, happy illusion. Our system comprises seven local libraries and one bookmobile. Each of these has its own librarians and assistants. The system also has a staff which is not attached to any particular branch. The whole system is overseen by a board of directors who are in charge of insuring the money gets properly spent. I've got two jobs with our library system, which gives me a great opportunity to watch the whole thing in action. My jobs are clerk/driver for the bookmobile and courier for the system.

I'll start this topic off by giving you a short look at what purpose a bookmobile serves. A bookmobile allows people who otherwise wouldn't have easy access to a public library to have a public library-on-wheels come to them. As I write this article, our bookmobile has 23 scheduled stops each month. These stops range in size and type from places on the map which really aren't towns, yet are identified by signs, and a one-room school-house (yes, they are still alive and well!), to a state-operated school for the handicapped and a city with a population over 5,000. Our patrons range in age from pre-schoolers to seniors well over 90 years old. They range, in type, from everyday ordinary folk to some fairly eccentric characters. I really enjoy the library for a work environment. That's not to say all my tasks are "fun".

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